World Boxing receives added support for Olympics push

WORLD BOXING has welcomed four new countries to its membership.

Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Guatemala and Laos had their applications approved taking the total number of nations involved to 55.

This comes a few weeks after Wladimir Klitschko gave his support to World Boxing’s efforts to ensure the sport is a part of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. And in September Gennadiy Golovkin was announced as chair of their Olympic Commission.

The news was revealed at the end of World Boxing’s second annual Congress in Colorado a week on from a successful U19 World Boxing Championships.

Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan are two of boxing’s powerhouse nations and President Boris van der Vorst spoke of his delight at the latest breakthrough.

“Only last week we announced seven new members to take World Boxing past the milestone of 50 countries. To be able to announce four more members – including two major powers in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan – so soon after this, is a sign of the growing momentum shift in international boxing.

“It is clear that there has been a change in impetus and that more National Federations want to join World Boxing as they recognise it is the only way to keep the Olympic dreams of their boxers alive.”

World Boxing was launched in April 2023.  On May 7, 2024, it held its first formal meeting with the IOC (Independent Olympic Committee) which signalled the start of formal collaboration aimed at establishing a pathway for boxing to remain in the Olympic Games.